Art enthusiasts and Van Gogh admirers should mark their calendars for an exceptional year of exhibitions in 2026, as museums across the Netherlands and Japan prepare to showcase the Dutch master's works in unprecedented ways. While these upcoming shows have received limited publicity so far, with additional exhibitions likely to emerge, the current lineup promises to offer unique perspectives on Vincent van Gogh's artistic legacy and enduring influence.
Japan will serve as a major destination for Van Gogh lovers, beginning in January when the Van Gogh Museum's touring exhibition makes its final stop at the Aichi Prefectural Museum of Art in Nagoya from January 3 to March 23, 2026. Titled "Van Gogh's Home: The Van Gogh Museum," this exhibition focuses on how works owned by the artist's family were preserved together and eventually donated for the opening of the Amsterdam museum in 1973. The Nagoya presentation will feature 24 Van Gogh paintings and five drawings, including the compelling "Self-portrait as a Painter" (December 1887-February 1888), alongside works by his contemporaries. This exhibition represents the culmination of a tour that has already captivated audiences in Osaka and Tokyo throughout the year.
Amsterdam will offer its own compelling exhibition in February with "Yellow: More than Van Gogh's Favourite Colour," running from February 13 to May 17, 2026, at the Van Gogh Museum. While the famous "Sunflowers" (January 1889) will naturally serve as the centerpiece, this exhibition will bring together approximately ten Van Gogh paintings alongside numerous works by other artists, demonstrating how the color yellow has served as a source of inspiration across different periods and artistic movements. The show promises to explore the symbolic, emotional, and aesthetic significance of yellow in art history.
Japanese audiences will have another exceptional opportunity in February when "The Grand Van Gogh Exhibition" continues its tour from the Kröller-Müller Museum in Otterlo. This comprehensive exhibition includes 37 Van Gogh paintings and 20 drawings, featuring works such as "Self-portrait" (April-June 1887). After its current run at Kobe City Museum until February 1, 2026, the exhibition will move to the Fukushima Prefectural Museum of Art from February 21 to May 10, 2026, before concluding at Tokyo's Ueno Royal Museum from May 29 to August 12, 2026.
One of the most significant events of the year will take place at the Kröller-Müller Museum in Otterlo, Netherlands, in September. Despite holding the world's second-largest collection of Van Gogh works after the Amsterdam museum, the Kröller-Müller has not displayed all its Van Gogh pieces together since 1984, as many are frequently on loan to other institutions. The exhibition "All Van Goghs" (working title), scheduled from September 15, 2026, to January 3, 2027, will reunite the museum's entire collection of 88 paintings for the first time in over four decades. This rare opportunity will include works such as "Four Sunflowers Gone to Seed" (October 1887), offering visitors a comprehensive view of Van Gogh's artistic evolution.
The Netherlands will also host a fascinating comparative study in October at the Noordbrabants Museum in Den Bosch. "Jan and Vincent: About Light" (working title), running from October 18, 2026, to February 21, 2027, will examine Van Gogh's influence on Jan Sluijters (1881-1957), one of the early 20th-century artists most inspired by the Dutch master. Born in Den Bosch, Sluijters' work will be presented alongside Van Gogh's pieces to explore themes of light and artistic inspiration.
Several ongoing exhibitions will continue into early 2026, providing additional opportunities to experience Van Gogh's work. The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam will host "Van Gogh and the Roulins: Together Again at Last" until January 11, 2026, reuniting 14 of the 23 portraits of the postman and his family. Another intimate exhibition at the same museum, "Captivated by Vincent: The Intimate Friendship of Jo van Gogh-Bonger and Isaac Israëls," runs until January 25, 2026, revealing the story of the affair between Vincent's sister-in-law and artist Isaac Israëls, featuring paintings by Israëls with Van Gogh works depicted in the background.
The Noordbrabants Museum in Den Bosch will continue its focused exhibition "Van Gogh and the Potato" until February 1, 2026, while in Provence, the Fondation Vincent van Gogh Arles will open "To Vincent: A Winter's Tale" from November 30 to April 21, 2026. This contemporary exhibition will feature works by 21 modern artists, including Anselm Kiefer and Wolfgang Tillmans, who have responded to themes from Van Gogh's letters, presented alongside two Van Gogh paintings on loan from the Van Gogh Museum.
In related news, contemporary artist David Hockney has created a new work inspired by Van Gogh, titled "Gauguin's Chair and Vincent's Chair, 4 July 2025," completed just this past summer. The painting, inspired by Van Gogh's depictions of his own empty chair and that of his colleague Paul Gauguin, will be the highlight of Hockney's exhibition "Some Very, Very, Very New Paintings Not Yet Shown in Paris" at London's Annely Juda Fine Art from November 7 to February 28, 2026. This contemporary interpretation demonstrates Van Gogh's continued influence on artists today, ensuring that 2026 will be a remarkable year for both historical and contemporary perspectives on the master's enduring legacy.
